Joint Webinar - Tackling the digital infrastructure divide in the Commonwealth

Infrastructure is a vital conduit for the effective functioning of economies. A well-functioning infrastructure ecosystem contributes to the competitiveness of economies as well as enabling trade and investment.  Sustainable Development Goal 9 (SDG 9), further highlights that inclusive and sustainable industrialisation along with innovation and infrastructure can unleash dynamic and competitive economic forces that generate employment and income.

Through the work of the Physical Connectivity cluster (PCC) of the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda, member countries have developed the Principles on Sustainable Investment in Digital Infrastructure, which identify infrastructure to include both hard infrastructure (basic and digital infrastructure) and soft infrastructure (capacity building and training). Both are seen as critical enablers in the digital economy.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Commonwealth countries have also identified the need for deeper digitalisation, with digital infrastructure being the key enabler of the digital economy recovery response to COVID-19. This was also evidenced in the

About the event

This virtual event, co-organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), will focus on the soft infrastructure needs of Commonwealth member countries in relation to training and capacity building around digital infrastructure. The seminar will provide an opportunity to:

1. Discuss the ‘digital soft infrastructure divide’ that exists in the Commonwealth;
2. Learn from academic experts and member states through the sharing of experiences on how the digital divide could be narrowed; and
3. Have an open dialogue and discussion on future training and capacity building, including possible e-learning courses that could be delivered on the technical aspects of the digital economy by the Commonwealth Secretariat in collaboration with the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

Watch highlights from the webinar

More information

This was a public event and we encouraged participation from Commonwealth member states, universities, international organisations interested in future collaboration and all interested persons/stakeholders in the field of digital economy, including technology experts, software developers, private sector and wider education sector stakeholders.

For more information, contact: Dr Radika Kumar, Adviser – Infrastructure Policy, [email protected]